326 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
vaJued at $27,431; 134,730 pounds pickled, valued at $5,017; and 
40,000 pounds of livers, valued at $18,000; rockfish, 21,532 pounds 
frozen, valued at $814; and “‘lingcod’’, 1,421 pounds of livers, valued 
at $639. 
FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY 
PRIBILOF ISLANDS 
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE WORK 
In 1936, 52,446 fur-seal skins were taken at the Pribilof Islands, a 
decrease of 4,850 skins from the number obtained in the preceding 
year. The smaller take this season was attributed, in part at Jeast, 
to the fact that unusually warm weather prevailed in the Bering Sea 
area, which is not conducive to the hauling out of seals. 
Fifteen percent of the season’s take of sealskins were delivered to a 
representative of the Canadian Government at Seattle as its share in 
accordance with the terms of the fur-seal treaty of July 7, 1911, and 
the remaining 85 percent were shipped to the Fouke Fur Co. at St. 
Louis, Mo. After the latter skins are processed and sold, allotment 
of Japan’s share of 15 percent of the season’s take, due under the 
same treaty, will be made from the net proceeds. 
Seal carcasses were again processed at the byproducts plant on 
St. Paul Island. The yield for the season amounted to 25,252 gallons 
of oil and 138 tons of meal. Except for small quantities retained at 
the Pribilof Islands for use in fox feed, the products were shipped to 
Seattle, where the oil was sold by competitive bidding and the meal 
was distributed for fish food at the various Federal hatcheries through- 
out the country. 
The care of blue-fox herds on St. Paul and St. George Islands was 
given attention during the winter months, and 999 blue and 13 white 
foxskins were taken in the 1936-37 season. 
Sealing and foxing operations, together with work incidental 
thereto, were performed by the Pribilof Islands natives and by approxi- 
mately 90 Aleutian natives hired for a few months, under the direction 
of white employees. The Pribilof natives, as virtual wards of the 
Government, received in return for their services food, clothing, 
shelter, and other necessaries of life, including medical aid and educa- 
tional facilities. In addition, they were paid in cash on a piecework 
basis for the taking of seal and fox skins. 
Some extension of improved roads was made on both islands to 
facilitate sealing operations, and attention was given to the repair and 
upkeep of buildings and equipment. A very limited amount of new 
construction was undertaken. 
Coast Guard cutters maintained a patrol for the protection of the 
fur-seal herd during its northward migration along the Pacific coast 
and while it remained in Bering Sea waters, as well as performing other 
services in connection with the Bureau’s work. Cooperative assist- 
ance was given also by the Navy Department, which detailed the 
U.S. S. Vega to make a round trip from Seattle to the Pribilofs to 
carry the annual shipment of supplies and to bring out the season’s 
take of sealskins. 
TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES 
The U.S. S. Vega, naval supply vessel, sailed from Seattle on July 
22 with the annual shipment of supplies for the Pribilof Islands. The 
cargo consisted of 1,187 tons of general freight and 63,752 board-feet 
